Today the Bell Rang

I got word today that it's gonna take a while for my part-time job to get funded, and Susan and I just spent a big chunk of money, and I'm thinking: 'Damn! I should be doing more than just spinning my life away, no matter how satisfying that is! I better get cracking on these graphic novels!' Not that I'll make much money from them, but hell, every little bit helps. So, absolute freedom and playtime is over.

Yep, it's time to get SERIOUS!

Big Decision

Today I attended the Alpaca Days open house at the Puerta del Sol alpaca farm. And after years of planning on getting sheep, I've decided to purchase at least two alpacas! I'm so excited! Of course, this will have to happen next summer after the barn is built.

Bliss

This evening I've continued to spin this super-soft, tan alpaca fiber. I open up the locks with my fingers, then gingerly brush them with the cards. Afterward, I spin using the long-draw method which keeps the yarn soft and full of air.

And what did I watch on TV while I was in spinning bliss? The "Outlander" marathon! We came in during the middle of the story and still managed to enjoy it tremendously. Graphic novel? Nowhere in sight these days. When I start my part-time job in a few weeks, I'll begin that work as well.

Spoiled Rotten

I am so spoiled and happy! Soon after I completed my morning chores, I settled down at the spinning wheel and spun, spun, spun! Every now and then, I cleaned true black alpaca fleece. My obsession with fiber is getting out of hand. I wonder where this obsession will lead? What's really bad is that my favorite thing to do while I spin is watch TV. Fortunately, there are some interesting programs on. I watched part of the "Taboo" series and the HBO documentary "Life According to Sam" about a boy with progeria and the fight to find a treatment for the disease. Then tonight I watched "The Knick".

Elms

Today was a mostly open-ended day for me, during which I spun and spun. I don't know what it is about spinning wool. All I know is that it's deeply satisfying to my core. It is play whereas drawing has become work. I feel quite lazy. And happy!

This afternoon we had all the elm trees removed from our property. Their roots destroy foundations and work their way into sewer pipes.

Promise

I have a hangover. Last night (this morning) I went to bed at 2 AM. I'm so happy to not be working, I'm staying up as late as I want and waking up in the morning whenever I feel like it. But, I felt exhausted all day with a slight headache. But I can blame the late hour on a POV documentary I stayed up to watch while I was spinning. It was called "American Promise", and it's about 2 African American boys and their lives in their middle class prep school. 

Mantids

Today was a dynamic day! Filled with impromptu appearances from neighbors and workmen. I was all over the place, flitting between drying fleece, talking with the workmen, and catching grasshoppers. Before the evening's thunderstorm began I spotted two praying mantids, one on the wooden pillar of the Wells Fargo bank and the other on our next door neighbor's tree trunk. Instant peace.

 

Distracted

Happily cleaned alpaca fleece and skeins of yarn and positioned them outside to dry in the warm, but not too warm, autumn sun. Coated our wooden porch and fence posts with a protective sealant, and prepared a second batch of peach apple butter in the crockpot for canning tomorrow. I've been giddily distracted but managed to watch most of the series of "The Roosevelts--An Intimate History".

Anyway, when I watch documentaries on United States history, I always ask this one question: "And what exactly was happening with the indigenous people during all this?" Oh, by the way, did I mention that Eleanor Roosevelt is one of my heroines?

Scouring

Did a lot today, but the highlight was the continuing scouring of wool. Anything having to do with my fiber gets my undivided attention, while I'm prone to forgetfulness with other topics and responsibilities.

I did learn from my spinster mentor that it's always best to scour wool before you even begin working with it. Oh, well!

Floating

Today, was a completely open-ended day! I did some rare house-cleaning, dug a hole for a post for the chicken coop, oversaw some clean-up of our lot next door, made major phone calls, dusted the living room, made a mediocre dinner, and began the process of scouring alpaca fleece. Am at a place in the teaching graphic novel wherein I need to figure out what I'm gonna say in the next two pages. It's the big revelation. The punchline. 

Beginning Again

I've been in spinning heaven! I have a spinning mentor who is an amazing spinning expert! Besides bringing it to my attention that I know next to nothing about spinning, my mentor is teaching me the basics: like the difference between WORSTED and WOOLEN.

Membership

Went to the Socorro Fiber Arts Guild meeting for the first time today. My friend Gail took me and introduced me. What a fabulous group of people! I met an expert spinner who's going to teach me how to be a better spinner! I became a member.

Concert

Went to hear Sarah Jarosz with Alex Hargreaves and Nathaniel Smith at the Macey Center in Socorro tonight. Aoife O'Donovan, lead singer for Crooked Still, opened up for Jarosz. The concert was mesmerizing! What a gifted group of young folks!

Now, I'm staying up late trying to reduce a batch of peach apple butter. It's just not heating up as quickly as I'd like in the crock pot.

Water

I hooked myself up to my playlist and completed blue penciling the drawings for the next page. It's really good to get back to the teaching book. But what I'm real proud of is that I've been swimming. I'm not a good swimmer. At all. Over the years, and I mean MANY years, I've learned parts of swimming, but I was never able to put them together. 

For this reason, I feared the deep end of the pool--until last week. Susan encouraged me to make use of the floating belt, kickboard, and floaty tube. I love the deep end! Then, today I ventured into the deep without a flotation device. YES!

Inspiration

Oh, I'm so inspired! My four-and-a-half-year-old grandson drew at preschool the most amazing picture of a spaceship! Bold, unhesitant line work. I can't wait to draw tomorrow! 

This is what happens when you experience other people's art. I rarely go to art museums, so I need to regularly find a way to look at the art of others. Thank you, Ezekiel!

Turning

The weather's beginning to turn. 90º days that began with 70º mornings before 10AM are giving way to mornings in the 60s, and 80º afternoons with a crisp breeze. Likewise, I can feel the hunger pangs for my graphic novels approaching. I'm not gonna rush it. Just sit and watch.

Freedom

Gosh, I love retirement! Open-ended time. Going where the spirit moves me. Work? What's that? I give up trying to force myself to do anything I don't want to do. In a week or two, I may begin a very part-time consulting job, but until then, I feel absolute FREEDOM!

So, what did I want to do yesterday? I wanted to shovel compost from a friend's pickup truck to our driveway. I love compost! When I have a compost pile, I know life is good!

Crazy

I'm spinning out of control! All I do is spin! I'm crazy about it. And to top things off, we're going to the Taos Wool Festival (Oh, I did manage to force myself to begin blue penciling the next drawing)!

Allergy

I'm battling allergies today. Dry, itchy eyes, runny nose, and the teeniest wheezing. A friend told me that ragweed is the culprit.

I've been taking a homeopathic remedy for the symptoms. I'm gonna get to bed earlier tonight. See if getting a full night's sleep will help.